Can I move the expansion chamber to the side of the hot water heater?

[homebrick98]

I am needing to move the hot water heater into a space that is shorter than where it currently resides. It will have about six inches of clearance above the tank. So, due to this, I need to move the expansion tank. Can the tank be moved to be on the side of the hot water heater?

 

[Silentrunning]

I can’t think of any reason it won’t function exactly as it does now.

 

[homebrick98]

Thanks for the help.

Doe the expansion tank have to be above the top of the hot water heater?

Also, the copper pipe connecting the expansion tank to the heater, is welded together. I'm not comfortable with my copper welding skills. Are there other options for making this connection?

 

[Stanley services]

You can’t buy plastic push fit connectors in 15mm and 22mm which are easy to self install and are effective

 

[Stanley services]

So if you are moving the tank, leave the original weld connection and saw off the copper pipe at an expedient point to reconnect with a push fit straight or elbow connector

 

[homebrick98]

Unfortunately, after looking it over, I am not going to have any room for the expansion tape to go on top of the hot water heater. Checkout the diagram I've posted below. The black lines is the wall. This is how, in my mind, I will set it up. Question, how should I secure the lines going up to the water heater and the expansion tank? Anything else I should think about?

 

[Stanley services]

The options in the diagram below should help. Smaller expansion tanks can be installed horizontally, however you must have a secure strapping system attached to the ceiling to prevent the connection failing due to its weight.

 

[homebrick98]

Do the vertical water lines need to be secured to anything? I could nail in a 2x4 to clip them to.

For the expansion chamber, can it be strapped down directly to the floor joist?

 

[Stanley services]

pipe Brackets are always helpful to avoid structural failure. You may have to build a sub frame to attach dependant on the pipes location. Hope this makes sense